Brian Grazer insisted on pre-Oscars meeting with Sacha Baron Cohen

Oscars producer Brian Grazer insisted on a meeting with funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen minutes before the start of the big show on Sunday night to make sure “The Dictator” wouldn’t be making a surprise appearance during the ceremony.

Cohen dumped an urn of fake ashes on the red carpet and all over E! news presenter Ryan Seacrest after arriving in character as Admiral Aladeen and his presence made Grazer more than a little nervous.

The movie mogul says, “Those shenanigans caused me to go into his dressing room because he had to change. He made me worry that he could create a problem during the show, but he promised me that he wouldn’t… and he’s a man of his word.”